I need a nurse.
in-fer-MYER-e — four syllables, stress on third. 'Infermiera' is the female form.
Press the call button or say this to any staff member. Never hesitate to ask for nursing assistance.
'Infermiere' (male) / 'infermiera' (female) = nurse. Italian hospital nurses ('infermieri') are qualified professionals with a three-year degree and are responsible for patient care, medication administration, and monitoring. 'OSS' (Operatore Socio Sanitario) = healthcare assistant — supports the nurse. The call button ('campanello di chiamata') is by every hospital bed.
Mi aiuti per favore, non riesco ad alzarmi.
Please help me, I cannot get up.
Specific request for physical assistance — important for fall prevention
Ho bisogno di cambiare la flebo.
I need to have the drip changed.
IV drip alert — the alarm on the pump often signals this automatically
La mia flebo è finita.
My drip has finished.
Alert the nurse when the IV bag is empty
Italian nursing ('professione infermieristica') was professionalised by DPR 225/1974 and has evolved significantly. Italian nurses can now prescribe some medications independently ('prescrizione infermieristica') in certain settings. The nurse-to-patient ratio in Italian hospitals is typically 1:6-8 on general wards — lower than many Northern European countries. Nursing shortages are a significant issue in Italian healthcare, partly due to emigration of trained nurses to better-paid EU countries.